Chinascope – Page 69

China’s Hypersonic Missiles Could Shoot Down U.S. B-21 Bomber, According to Simulation

The United States Air Force’s new B-21 bomber successfully conducted its maiden flight on November 10th at the Palmdale Air Force Base in California, prompting jubilation in the U.S. Chinese researchers, however, claimed that they possess a secret weapon to counter the B-21. A research team from a northwest Chinese university published findings in the “Chinese Journal of Aeronautics and Astronautics,” declaring success in a simulation where a B-21-like stealth platform and its drones were downed by China’s hypersonic air-to-air missiles reaching speeds of Mach 6. China’s advanced tactics involve flexible hypersonic missiles with solid fuel pulsejet engines, capable of adjusting power during flight and switching targets between attacking missiles, catching U.S. aircraft off guard.

Source: QQ, December 3, 2023
https://new.qq.com/rain/a/20231130A072ZU00

Briefings | | December 9, 2023 | Defense/Military

Former President of Micronesia: The CCP Coerces, Bribes, and Infiltrates Pacific Island Countries

David Panuelo, the Former President of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), stated that Beijing is infiltrating various Pacific island nations through economic coercion, bribery, and other means.

He gave an example, stating that when the Vice President of Micronesia was still a senator, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) attempted to bribe him with a bag full of money, but he refused.

He said that Chinese diplomatic personnel contacted him when he was

He mentioned that during his visit to Beijing, Chinese diplomatic personnel specialized in Pacific island nations contacted him to conveyed the intentions of the CCP leader, Xi Jinping. They emphasized that China would “fulfill all requests made by Micronesia.”

In July of last year, when he traveled to Fiji to participate in the Pacific Islands Forum, he was followed by two Chinese men. Micronesia discovered that they were working at the Chinese Embassy in Fiji, and one of them was an intelligence officer.

Source: Epoch Times, December 1, 2023
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/23/12/1/n14128093.htm

Briefings | | December 9, 2023 | @CS Geo-Strategic Trend

Twenty-Five Million Chinese People Drop Medical Insurance

According to Caijing Magazine, the number of people paying for medical insurance in China has declined significantly since last year. Among those considered “residents” (i.e. those who are not employees forced to purchase insurance), 25.17 million people dropped their medical insurance. The net change in number of insured individuals in China in 2022 decreased by 17.05 million compared to 2021. People have blamed the decrease in insurance on fast-increasing insurance premiums and the need for out-of-pocket payment when applying for reimbursement.

Source: Radio Free Asia, October 25, 2023
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/huanjing/gt2-10252023074320.html

Briefings | | December 9, 2023 | Economy/Resources

China’s Local Government Debt Soars to $40 Trillion In November; Half of New Issuance is for Refinancing

In the first 11 months of 2023, China’s local governments issued RMB 9.14 trillion (US$1.28 trillion) in bonds, exceeding the RMB 7.4 trillion (US$1.04 trillion) issued throughout all of 2022. Half of the bonds issued this year were used for debt refinancing. The scale of refinancing bonds saw an 82% annual increase to RMB 4.59 trillion (US$643 billion). In contrast, RMB 4.55 trillion (US$637 billion) in new bonds (not for refinancing) were issued, down 4% annually.

Two main factors drove the large increase in refinancing bonds. First, RMB 3.6 trillion (US$504 billion) worth of local government bonds are maturing this year, putting pressure on government finances. Refinancing bonds are helping to repay these old debts. Second, to reduce risk, China’s Ministry of Finance allowed for special refinancing bonds with extended redemption periods. Since October of this year, over 20 provinces/municipalities in China have issued a collective RMB 1.3 trillion (US$182 billion) in these special bonds, far higher than the RMB 200 billion (US$28 billion) issued last year.

By the end of October, 2023, China’s local government debt balance passed RMB 40 trillion (US$5.6 trillion) for the first time ever. This is double the figure from before 2019, when local government debt stood at less than RMB 20 trillion (US$2.8 trillion).

Taiwan’s Central News Agency cited a statement by China’s Ministry of Finance that rapid local debt growth since the pandemic outbreak is related to increased fiscal expansion and local debt scales.

Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), December 5, 2023
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202312050237.aspx

Briefings | | December 7, 2023 | Economy/Resources

Chinese Media Outlet Bans Use of Translations Not Provided by Xinhua News

South Korean daily newspaper Chosun Ilbo reported that a prominent Shanghai-based Chinese media outlet has banned editors and journalists from quoting foreign media reports translated by outlets other than China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency. The ban was allegedly issued in July after the outlet appointed a new president affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party. Analysts say the move reflects Beijing’s growing efforts to control the flow of information from abroad and convey the leadership’s narrative to the public.

The Chosun Ilbo article argues that this sort of information control is not without precedent in China, citing the security law that led Hong Kong outlets like Sing Tao Daily and Apple Daily to come under Beijing’s influence or cease operations. It represents China cutting off channels for “anti-China public opinion.” According to a Chinese journalist, domestic media can now only do independent reporting on “little things” concerning the country.

The article states that China started blocking the websites of major Western news outlets like Time and The Economist in 2016. Now, domestic media are restricted from citing foreign reports, cutting the flow of outside information into China. Recent years have also seen tight control over state media coverage of Xi Jinping at official events, with only pre-approved CCTV, Xinhua, and compliant outlets granted access. As a result, Chinese media present a uniform, government-sanctioned image of Xi, with only a few vetted experts allowed to comment.

Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), December 5, 2023
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202312050034.aspx

Briefings | | December 7, 2023 | Government/Politics

China’s College Graduates to Hit Record High in 2024

Statistics from China’s Ministry of Education show that 11.79 million students are expected to graduate from Chinese colleges and universities in 2024, an increase of 210,000 compared to 2023. This comes at a time when China is facing widespread bankruptcies and layoffs. The Ministry of Education held a meeting with the Ministries of Human Resources and Social Security on December 5th to discuss employment preparations for the record number of graduates.

The Ministry of Education called for an “Action Plan” to promote graduate employment through various measures. It stated that colleges need to equip specialized employment staff, develop market-based employment channels, and continue efforts for college leaders to visit companies to create job opportunities. Other initiatives include expanding the “Ten Thousand Enterprises on Campus Plan” to provide graduates access to more high-quality job information.

On December 5th the Ministry released guidelines with 26 initiatives asking all Chinese universities to make graduate employment a top priority. The notice stressed the challenging economic climate and need for creative solutions to prevent employment difficulties among the high number of graduates. It outlined specific strategies for colleges to realize this goal. These included job fairs, entrepreneurship support, vocational guidance, and tracking graduate employment outcomes.

Source: Radio Free Asia, December 5, 2023
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/Xinwen/2-12052023103133.html

Briefings | | December 7, 2023 | Economy/Resources

China Concedes in Dispute with Lithuania over Taiwanese Representative Office, Lifts Sanctions

China recently lifted the severe trade restrictions imposed on Lithuania after the Baltic state established a “Taiwanese Representative Office” in late 2021.

The sanctions were part of Beijing’s vigorous efforts to prevent other countries around the world from establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Representatives of the Chinese government said that it would only be permissible for the Taiwanese office in Lithuania to be referred to as a “Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office,” and that the terminology “Taiwanese Representative Office” was unacceptable. Under normal diplomatic relations between sovereign states, a similar outpost of one country within another would be called an “Embassy.”

German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung quoted Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis on the new development in China-Lithuania relations: the Chinese government has ended its attempt at “economic coercion,” and the name “Taiwanese Representative Office” will remain despite Beijing’s criticism. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung praised Lithuania, saying that the small country had won the principles-based fights.

Lithuania conducts trade with China worth tens of millions of euros. China’s restrictive measures led to an 80% drop in Lithuania’s 2022 exports to China. The EU raised the issue of Chinese-Lithuanian trade with the World Trade Organization at the end of 2022.

Many EU countries, including Eastern European countries, no longer see China as a favorable partner. Last year, Baltic countries Latvia and Estonia followed Lithuania’s lead in withdrawing from the China and Central and Eastern European Countries (China-CEEC) initiative, also known as the 14+1 initiative (formerly 17+1). These Baltic states have established trade offices with Taiwan. The Czech Republic also got closer to Taiwan, deviating from its historically-close ties with China. China’s support of Russia during the Russia-Ukraine war further alienated many countries in the EU.

Facing serious economic challenges domestically, China now seeks to ease relations with Western countries. This recent move on trade with Lithuania is one such effort, potentially lightening tensions with the European Union (EU) ahead of the upcoming China-EU Summit. In another such effort, Beijing has cancelled travel visa requirements for citizens of five different EU countries, enabling easier travel to China.

Source: Back China, December 3, 2023
https://www.backchina.com/news//2023/12/03/889175.html

Briefings | | December 7, 2023 | @CS Economy/Resources Geo-Strategic Trend

China’s Reaction to Trump’s Election Win

Xinhua Commentary Series: Spotlight on the U.S. Presidential Election

Wu Guoguang: Xi Jinping’s Reversal of the Course, Will China’s Transition be Peaceful or Marked with Bloodshed?

Cheng Xiaonong: U.S.-China Strategic Relations Have Crystallized